Institute  of  International  Education 

International  Relations  Clubs 
Syllabus  No.  Ill 


The  History  of  Russia  from 
earliest  times 

A  Preliminary  Syllabus 
2>y  Baron  S.  A.  Korff,  LL.D. 

-fjpuiu 

Formerly  Professor  of  Russian  Law  and  History  of  Law  at  the  University  of 
Helsingfors,  Finland,  and  the  Women’s  University  of  Petrograd,  Russia 


August,  1920 


Institute  of  International  Education 


International  Relations  Clubs 
Syllabus  No.  Ill 


The  History  of  Russia  from 
earliest  times 

A  Preliminary  Syllabus 
Baron  S.  A.  Korff,  LL.D. 

Formerly  Professor  of  Russian  Law  and  History  of  Law  at  the  University  of 
Helsingfors,  Finland,  and  the  Women’s  University  of  Petrograd,  Russia 


August,  1920 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2019  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/historyofrussiafOOkorf 


PREFACE 


In  the  course  of  my  lectures  in  eastern  and  southern  universities 
and  colleges,  I  found  invariably  the  greatest  interest  in  Russia,  her 
history  and  institutions,  and  her  present  unfortunate  condition  and 
sufferings.  There  is  no  doubt  whatever  that  the  present  American 
generation  feels  intensely  attracted  by  and  is  heartily  in  sympathy 
with  the  Russian  people.  And  rightly  may  Americans  be  concerned 
with  Russia’s  fate;  no  peace  in  Europe — and,  hence,  in  the  world — 
will  be  established,  as  long  as  the  present  conditions  last  in  Russia; 
this  probably  is  accepted  at  the  present  day  as  a  truism  by  most 
educated  people. 

And  yet,  notwithstanding  all  this  interest  and  sympathy  of 
Americans,  I  found  a  very  considerable  lack  of  knowledge  of  Russia’s 
past  and  present  conditions,  as  well  as  a  keen  desire  to  learn  more 
about  the  Russian  people.  There  are  available  quite  sufficient 
sources  of  information  in  the  English  language,  but,  unfortunately, 
the  American  reader  is  only  too  often  misguided  by  political  propa¬ 
ganda,  which  makes  use  of  all  recent  information  in  distorting  it 
and  warping  its  real  meaning. 

The  aim  of  the  present  syllabus  is  to  help  the  American  reader 
in  his  studies  of  Russia’s  history,  in  an  impartial  and  non-political 
way,  and  give  him  a  leading  thread  through  the  maze  of  modern 
literature.  Of  course,  the  very  best  book  on  Russian  history  is 
that  of  the  late  Moscow  Professor,  V7.  O.  Kliuchevski;  the  first 
three  volumes  are  now  translated  into  English  and  published  in 
this  country.  It  is  much  more  difficult  to  point  out  works  concern¬ 
ing  more  recent  events  of  Russian  history  and  especially  the  causes 
and  history  of  her  great  Revolution;  most  of  what  has  been  written 
relating  to  modern  times  is  biased  one  way  or  another  and  does  not 
give  a  fair  account  of  the  complicated  social  and  economic  processes 
of  Russian  life.  Even  Russians  in  this  respect  have  yet  done  very 
little;  in  consequence,  most  foreign  writers  and  investigators  can 
hardly  be  blamed  for  their  lack  of  understanding.  Miliukov’s  book, 
“Russia  and  Its  Crisis”  (1905)  and  certainly  Masaryk’s  two  vol- 

[3] 


umes, ‘The  Spirit  of  Russia,”  Macmillan  Co.,  1919,  which  gives  the 
best  picture  of  the  ideology  of  the  Russian  revolutionary  movement, 
are  probably  the  best  sources  of  information,  though  even  they  do 
not  cover  the  whole  ground.  Much  is  still  to  be  achieved,  but  this 
can  be  done  only  by  the  Russian  historians  themselves  and  the 
latter  hardly  will  be  able  to  start  their  work  as  long  as  the  present 
conditions  of  social  unrest  last. 

Every  patriotic  Russian  must  feel  very  grateful  for  the  cordial 
sympathy  invariably  shown  toward  his  country  by  Americans, 
and  for  the  boundless  hospitality  that  he  always  meets  with  in  the 
United  States. 

Deep  satisfaction  must  also  be  expressed  to  the  Institute  of 
International  Education,  of  the  Carnegie  Endowment,  for  publish¬ 
ing  this  syllabus  as  a  possible  help  in  the  study  of  Russian  history, 
as  well  as  for  their  endeavors  to  stimulate  such  studies  among 
American  students.  Many  of  the  Russian  events  could  serve  as  a 
splendid  example  in  our  modern  troubled  times. 

S.  A.  Korff 

New  York 
July ,  1920 


[4l 


THE  HISTORY  OF  RUSSIA 

I.  Early  History  of  the  Slavs 

A.  The  pre-historic  abode  of  the  Slavs  on  the  south  coast  of  the  Baltic. 
Historical  research  of  the  XIX  century  was  very  much  puzzled  in  locating 
the  original  dwelling  places  of  the  pre-historic  Slavs  and  only  the  recent 
linguistic  studies  of  Professor  A.  Shahmatov  and  others  established  the 
real  pre-historic  abode  of  the  Slavic  tribes  on  the  southern  and  western 
shores  of  the  Baltic. 

B.  The  first  migratory  movements  south  in  the  first  centuries  of  our  era.  The 
Slavs  on  the  Carpathian  mountains. 

Their  causes,  as  compared  to  pre-historic  tribal  movements  in  Europe  in 
general.  Social  structure  and  organization  of  the  primitive  Slavic  tribes; 
their  mode  of  living. 

C.  Two  main  results  of  the  migration  south : 

1.  First  contact  with  other  races. 

2.  Split  among  the  Slavic  tribes. 

D.  Early  history  and  the  chief  tribal  characteristics: 

1.  Of  the  Poles. 

2.  Of  the  Southern  Slavs,  moving  constantly  south,  toward  the  Balkan 
Peninsula. 

E.  The  great  trade  routes  north  and  south  from  the  Baltic  to  the  Black  and 
Caspian  seas  and  vice-versa. 

The  state  of  culture  of  the  Norsemen  in  Scandinavia,  the  Greeks  on  the 
coasts  of  the  Black  Sea  and  the  Persians  in  the  Caspian  region.  Races 
inhabiting  South  Russia  and  Central  Asia. 

The  meaning  for  the  Eastern  Slavs  and  for  their  primitive  social  organi¬ 
zations  of  the  trade  routes  and  especially  of  the  contact  with  the  Norse¬ 
men. 

The  social  and  military  organization  of  the  Norsemen. 

F.  Gradual  fusion  of  the  Norse  elements,  especially  of  their  military  leaders, 
in  the  Slavic  social  body. 

Direct  consequence:  new  forms  of  the  Slavic  primitive  state.  The  role 
of  the  Vietche  or  popular  assembly  of  the  Slavs.  Their  mode  of  govern¬ 
ment.  Their  trade. 

The  ancient  legends  concerning  the  founding  of  the  Slavic  state;  VIII-IX 
centuries  a.  d.  The  way  and  purpose  for  which  such  legends  were 
composed. 

Outer  relations  and  inner  conditions  of  the  Slavic  tribal  groups  and  settle¬ 
ments  of  the  IX  century. 

The  prince,  as  head  of  the  tribe  and  military  leader;  his  army;  the  local 
noblemen  and  traders. 

I  5  I 


G.  Influence  of  religion.  Ancient  rites  of  the  Slavs. 

Christianity  introduced  by  Prince  Vladimir;  relations  with  Byzantium. 

II.  Growth  of  culture,  wealth  and  civilization  among  the  Slavs  living  on  the 
great  trade  route  along  the  River  Dnieper.  Differences  between  the 
northern  and  southern  tribes  and  settlements;  Novgorod  and  Kiev. 
Gradual  increase  of  numbers  and  decrease  in  size  of  the  Slavic  states  and 
tribal  organizations.  Their  growing  weakness  and  inter-tribal  quarrels. 
Growth  of  the  power  of  the  prince  and  loss  of  influence  of  the  popular 
assemblies  (Vietche) ;  role  of  the  ruling  class  and  their  trade. 

I.  Beginnings  and  causes  of  a  new  colonizing  movement  in  the  north-east,  into 
forests  inhabited  by  very  primitive  Finnish  tribes. 

Founding  of  Moscow,  a  small  local  colony.  (The  description  of  this  new 
process  constitutes  one  of  the  finest  pages  of  Kliuchevski’s  book.) 

The  prince  landlord;  the  ruling  class;  the  peasant-colonists;  final  disap¬ 
pearance  of  the  Vietche. 

KI-XII  centuries.  Exceptional  position  of  Novgorod  and  its  commercial 
wealth.  Two  other  republics — Pskof  and  Viatka. 

J.  The  split  between  the  north-eastern  tribes,  which  formed  the  Great- 
Russian  stock,  and  the  ones  left  in  the  south-west,  later  known  as  the 
Little  Russians  or  Ukrainians. 

Differences:  of  language,  character,  mode  of  living  and  occupation,  cli¬ 
mate,  social  organization  and  economic  conditions. 

K.  The  Mongol  invasion  and  conquest.  Its  important  influences  on  the 
Slavs,  on  their  social  organization  and  institutions,  their  religion,  eco¬ 
nomic  conditions  and  future  development.  The  dark  XIII  century. 

The  form  of  Mongol  subjugation;  military  dominance;  financial  tribute 
and  ways  of  collecting  it ;  local  autonomy  of  the  Slavs.  Relations  between 
the  Slav  princes  and  the  Mongol  rulers. 

Great  differences  between  the  situation  in  the  south-west  and  in  the 
north-east. 

The  role  of  the  Slavs  in  stopping  the  further  western  movement  of 
the  Mongols  into  Europe. 

Readings: 

R.  Beazley,  N.  Forbes,  G.  A.  Birkett,  History  of  Russia  to  Modern 
Times;  London,  1918. 

J.  Curtin,  The  Mongols ,  a  History ,  Boston,  1908. 

J.  Curtin,  The  Mongols  in  Russia ,  Boston,  1908. 

V.  O.  Kliuchevski,  History  of  Russia,  N.  Y.,  Dutton  &  Co.  The  author 
is  unanimously  considered  by  the  Russians  as  the  greatest  and  most  able 
modern  historian. 

A.  Rambaud,  History  of  Russia  from  Earliest  Times ,  1885  (Antiquated). 

II.  Mediaeval  Epoch 

A.  Remarkable  growth  of  the  Principality  of  Moscow. 

Surprising  results  of  the  north-eastern  colonization.  Moscow’s  relations 
to  neighboring  principalities  and  their  gradual  subjugation  by  various 
clever  means. 


[6] 


Relations  with  Byzantium  and  the  Church. 

Relations  to  the  Mongol  suzerains. 

Gradual  weakening  of  the  power  of  the  latter. 

Moscow  emerges  triumphant  and  amazingly  strong  in  the  XV  century. 

B.  Causes  of  the  foregoing  process. 

Inward  consolidation. 

Outward  conquests. 

Remarkable  personalities  of  the  Moscow  princes,  culminating  in  Ivan  III, 
the  Great. 

Their  family,  house  and  system  of  government. 

Relations  to  the  now  impoverished  south-west. 

C.  Social  organization;  economic  conditions  of  Moscow. 

Traits  of  feudalism  in  Moscow. 

The  class  of  aristocracy  and  mediatised  princes. 

The  new  bureaucracy,  grown  out  of  the  Household  of  the  Prince. 

The  commercial  class;  Moscow’s  trade  and  trade  routes. 

The  peasants. 

The  serfs. 

Foundation  and  growth  of  autocracy,  reaching  a  climax  under  Ivan  IV, 
the  Terrible. 

Influence  of  Byzantium  and  partly  of  the  Mongols,  as  well  as  of  the 
predilections  of  the  Moscow  princes. 

Influence  of  the  Church. 

D.  Wars  of  the  XV  and  XVI  centuries. 

The  Poles,  the  Swedes,  the  Tartars. 

Great  expansion:  east,  south-east  and  south. 

Colonization  movement  south  and  the  first  Cossack  settlements. 
Consolidation  of  these  conquests. 

Fight  against  the  old  aristocracy,  especially  by  Ivan  IV,  and  the  reorgani¬ 
zation  of  the  central  government. 

The  Duma  and  other  institutions  of  the  central  government. 

The  local  administration. 

Finances  and  army. 

New  social  classes. 

The  peasants,  becoming  glaebae  adscripti  towards  the  end  of  the  XVI 
century.  Land  property. 

E.  Weakness  of  the  central  government  towards  the  end  of  the  XVI  century. 
Dynastic  troubles  and  strife  among  the  ruling  classes. 

Other  sources  of  inner  weakness  and  outward  danger. 

F.  Great  social  upheaval  and  unrest  in  the  beginning  of  the  XVII  century. 
The  founding  of  the  new  Romanoff  dynasty  and  the  election  of  Michael 
to  the  throne  in  1613. 

Final  disappearance  of  the  old  aristocracy. 

The  new  bureaucratic  system  of  government;  the  Duma,  Prikasi  and 
other  institutions;  elected  assemblies  or  Zemskie  Sobori. 

The  local  administration;  landed  proprietors;  their  serfs. 

I  7  ] 


Wars  of  Michael  and  Alexis,  especially  against  the  Poles,  Swedes  and 
Turks. 

Relations  with  the  south-west. 

G.  The  meaning  of  the  social  unrest  of  the  XVII  century  for  the  future  devel¬ 
opment  of  Russia. 

The  religious  strife  between  the  established  Church  and  the  new  sects 
and  nonconformists. 

The  position  and  role  of  the  Patriarch. 

Education,  literature  and  culture. 

Trade  and  commerce. 

Influence  of  western  civilization. 

Influx  of  foreigners. 

Readings: 

V.  O.  Kliuchevski,  History  of  Russia. 

J.  Mavor,  Economic  History  of  Russia ,  N.  Y.,  Dutton,  1914. 

A.  Rambaud,  History  of  Russia. 

Readers,  knowing  Russian,  can  make  use  of  the  works  of  Sergeievich, 
Lappo-Danilevski,  Platonof  and  Pavlof-Silvanski. 

III.  The  Russian  Empire — XVIII  Century 

A.  Peter  I,  the  Great.  His  youth  and  education;  his  personality;  voyages 
abroad;  advent  to  the  throne  and  reforms. 

Preliminary  epoch  and  social  surroundings. 

Fight  against  tradition;  western  influences. 

Peter’s  wars:  with  the  Swedes,  with  the  Poles  and  the  Turks. 

Founding  of  St.  Petersburg;  reasons  and  consequences. 

The  navy  and  the  Baltic  trade. 

B.  Peter’s  reforms;  general  scope. 

Central  government;  the  senate. 

Local  administration;  the  new  provinces  and  their  governors. 

Finances,  army,  recruiting  system. 

The  peasant;  the  serf. 

The  Church  (Patriarch  and  Synod);  religion,  education. 

C.  Women  on  the  throne.  * 

Permanent  changes. 

Causes  of  the  failure  of  some  reforms  and  of  the  seeming  instability  of 
Peter’s  achievements. 

D.  Catherine  II.  Her  youth  and  education;  her  marriage  and  the  dethrone¬ 
ment  of  her  husband;  her  personality  and  accomplishments;  her  literary 
work. 

Social  classes;  the  aristocracy,  the  gentry,  the  commercial  class,  the 
peasants  and  serfs. 

The  general  assembly. 

The  great  reform  of  the  provincial  administration;  local  self-government 
and  Catherine’s  governor-generals. 

Her  relations  with  the  western  philosophers,  Voltaire,  Diderot  and  others. 

18] 


E.  The  wars  of  Catherine;  her  conquests  and  system  of  governing  the  con¬ 
quered  provinces.  Partitions  of  Poland.  The  Ukraine.  Turkey. 

Russia  finally  reaches  the  Black  Sea. 

The  economic  and  strategical  meaning  of  the  outlets  to  the  seas.  The 
straits  of  Constantinople. 

Catherine's  favorites;  the  serfs  and  the  landed  proprietors. 

The  educational  system;  literature;  religion;  cultural  development  and 
intellectual  awakening. 

Catherine’s  fear  of  the  French  Revolution. 

F.  The  reign  of  Catherine’s  insane  son,  Paul. 

Readings: 

R.  Beazley,  N.  Forbes,  G.  A.  Birkett,  History  of  Russia  to  Modern 
Times ,  London,  1918. 

V.  O.  Kliuchevski,  History  of  Russia. 

J.  Mavor,  Economic  History  of  Russia. 

W.  R.  Morfill,  A  History  of  Russia,  N.  Y.,  Pott  and  Co.,  1902. 

There  exists  a  voluminous  literature  concerning  Catherine  and  her  reign, 
much  of  which  is,  however,  absolutely  unreliable. 

IV.  The  Russian  Empire — XIX  Century 

A.  Alexander  I.  His  youth,  education  and  liberal  inclinations. 

Murder  of  his  father,  his  advent  to  the  throne. 

Attempts  at  some  liberal  reforms;  Speranski  and  his  constitutional  plans. 
Relations  with  Napoleon. 

Conquest  of  Finland  and  the  grant  of  a  constitution. 

The  war  with  Napoleon  of  1 81 1-1812. 

Congress  of  Vienna;  Alexander,  the  liberator  of  Europe  and  savior  of 
Prussia. 

The  Polish  Constitution. 

Alexander  in  Paris;  his  great  influence  on  western  politics. 

The  Holy  Alliance;  Alexander’s  relations  with  the  United  States. 

Change  in  Alexander’s  Russian  policy. 

Educational  system;  intellectual  influences;  economic  difficulties; 
literature,  religion. 

The  return  from  abroad  of  the  Russian  armies. 

Sudden  death  of  Alexander  in  the  South  of  Russia. 

B.  Nicholas  I.  His  youth,  education  and  autocratic  tastes. 

The  uprising  of  1825  at  the  time  of  his  advent  to  the  throne. 

Dark  period  of  reaction  in  Russia. 

The  Polish  insurrection  of  1831. 

Turkish  war;  Hungarian  campaign. 

European  reaction  and  the  role  of  Nicholas. 

The  new  bureaucracy;  the  peasant-serfs;  the  army. 

Educational  reaction;  great  literary  awakening. 

Seeming  strength  and  inward  weakness  of  Russia. 

The  Crimean  War  and  defeat. 


[9] 


C.  Alexander  II.  His  youth  and  advent  to  the  throne  during  the  Crimean 
disaster.  Congress  of  Paris;  restrictions  laid  upon  Russia. 

The  liberal  reforms: 

1.  Emancipation  of  the  serfs,  1861. 

2.  Local  self-government  (zemstvos  and  municipalities),  1864,  1870. 

3.  Courts  of  law,  1864. 

Second  Polish  insurrection,  1863. 

Insincerity  of  some  reforms  and  the  consequent  reaction;  opposition  of 
some  social  classes. 

The  aristocracy,  gentry  and  bureaucracy  after  the  emancipation. 

The  Turkish  War,  the  Balkan  States  and  Europe;  The  Congress  of 
Berlin;  Bismarck  and  Beaconsfield. 

Alexander’s  foreign  policy;  Gorchakof;  influence  of  Prussia. 

Central  Asia  and  the  Caucasus. 

Economic  and  financial  policy. 

Education,  literature,  religion,  art. 

The  revolutionary  movement;  Alexander’s  death. 

D.  Alexander  III.  His  youth  and  education;  advent  to  the  throne  after  his 
father’s  murder. 

Systematic  reaction;  his  ministers,  especially  Count  D.  Tolstoi  and 
Pobiedonostsev. 

Political  persecutions,  growing  constantly  in  intensity. 

Oppression  of  the  non-Slavic  nationalities. 

Education,  literature,  religion;  the  revolutionary  movement  and  social 
democracy. 

Alexander’s  foreign  policy;  friendship  with  France  and  dislike  of  Ger¬ 
many  and  England. 

Conquests  and  colonization  in  Central  Asia.  Trans-Siberian  Railway. 
Economic  development  of  Russia. 

Readings: 

Val.  de  Gorlof,  Origines  et  Phases  de  V Alliance  franco-russe ,  Paris, 
Grosset,  1913. 

J.  F.  Hecker,  Russian  Sociology ,  N.  Y.,  1915. 

Kinglake,  The  Crimean  War  (The  best  and  most  detailed  account  of  this 
terrible  struggle). 

A.  Kornilov,  Modern  Russian  History ,  Knopf,  N.  Y. 

M.  Kovalevsky,  Russian  Political  Institutions,  Chicago,  1902. 

S.  M.  Kravchinsky,  Russian  Peasantry,  Dutton,  1905. 

P.  A.  Kropotkine,  Ideals  and  Realities  in  Russian  Literature,  N.  Y.,  1915. 
P.  A.  Kropotkine,  Russian  Literature,  N.  Y.,  1905. 

T.  G.  Masaryk,  Spirit  of  Russia,  Macmillan  Co.,  1919. 

J.  Mavor,  Economic  History  of  Russia,  Dutton,  1914. 

P.  N.  Miliukov,  Russia  and  Its  Crisis,  1905. 

P.  Vinogradoff,  Self -Government  in  Russia,  London,  1916. 

I  10] 


The  following  works  were  formerly  considered  as  standard  investigations, 
but  are  at  present  out  of  date  and  antiquated: 

A.  Leroy-Beaulieu,  The  Empire  of  the  Tsars,  1893. 

D.  McKenzie  Wallace,  Russia,  1912. 

A.  Rambaud,  History  of  Russia,  1885. 

V.  Russia  and  the  Revolution 

A.  The  reign  of  Nicholas  II.  His  education,  character  and  proclivities. 

Social  surroundings.  The  court.  The  ruling  classes  and  the  bureaucracy. 
The  gentry,  the  peasantry  and  other  classes. 

The  foreign  policy.  The  Hague  Conferences;  their  origin  and  achieve¬ 
ments;  alliance  with  France  and  influences  of  Germany;  England; 
United  States. 

The  strife  in  the  Far  East  and  consequent  war  with  Japan.  Port  Arthur 
and  Dalny.  The  army.  The  navy.  Korea.  Commerce  in  the  Far  East. 
Manchuria.  Russian-Chinese  Bank  and  Railway.  Portsmouth  Treaty. 
Role  of  President  Roosevelt. 

Readings: 

The  cited  works  of  A.  Kornilov,  J.  Mavor,  V.  de  Gorlof,  Mackenzie 
Wallace;  see  also  Asakawa,  Russo-Japanese  Conflict. 

A.  J.  Beveridge,  The  Russian  Advance,  N.  Y.,  Harpers,  1904. 

C.  J.  H.  Hayes,  Modern  Europe,  Vol.  II. 

Ch.  Rivet,  The  Last  of  the  Romanoffs,  London,  1918. 

B.  Causes  and  consequences  of  the  military  defeat;  liberal  concessions;  the 
manifesto  of  October,  1905;  the  first  Russian  Parliament  (the  Imperial 
Duma). 

The  Russian  Constitution;  its  main  principles  and  outline. 

Insincerity  of  these  reforms  and  measures. 

The  first  two  Dumas;  the  third  Duma;  the  role  of  the  upper  chamber. 
The  increasing  reaction;  Prime  Minister  P.  Stolypine;  his  agrarian 
reform. 

Political  persecutions  and  degeneration  of  the  police  system  (treachery  of 
Asef  and  murder  of  Stolypine). 

Development  of  the  revolutionary  movement. 

C.  The  economic  and  financial  situation. 

Growing  industry;  the  labor  question  and  unrest. 

Education;  universities  (their  participation  in  politics),  technical,  medical 
and  other  schools;  women’s  education;  primary  schools  (government, 
church,  zemstvo,  municipal,  private). 

Literature,  science,  music,  art. 

Influences  of  the  western  countries,  which  no  police  measures  could  stop. 
Readings: 

M.  Baring,  An  Outline  of  Russian  Literature,  London,  1915. 

M.  Baring,  Landmarks  in  Russian  Literature,  1910. 

W.  H.  Beable,  Commercial  Russia,  London,  1918. 

'[  n  ] 


P.  A.  Kropotkine,  Ideqls  and  Realities  in  Russian  Literature ,  1915. 

P.  A.  Kropotkine,  Russian  Literature ,  1905. 

T.  J.  Masaryk,  Spirit  of  Russia,  1919. 

J.  Mavor,  An  Economic  History  of  Russia,  1914,  Vol.  II. 

P.  N.  Miliukov,  Russia  and  Its  Crisis,  1905. 

Montagu- Nathan,  Contemporary  Russian  Composers,  1917. 

A.  Raffalovitch,  Russia,  Its  Trade  and  Commerce,  1918. 

A.  Reade,  Russia  under  Nicholas  II,  1918. 

H.  W.  Williams,  Russia  of  the  Russians,  1916. 

K.  Zilliacus,  Russian  Revolutionary  Movement,  1905. 

D.  Foreign  policy,  preceding  the  World’s  War. 

The  Far  Eastern  question;  Japan,  China,  Manchuria,  Mongolia. 

The  Balkan  States. 

Turkey  and  the  Straits;  Palestine;  Armenia. 

Persia;  Afganistan;  Central  Asia;  Treaty  with  England  in  1907. 
Relations  with  Russia’s  future  enemies;  Germany  and  the  Kaiser;  Tur¬ 
key,  Constantinople,  Berlin-Bagdad  railway;  Bulgaria;  Austria-Hun¬ 
gary;  the  Miirzsteg  Convention;  other  agreements  and  conflicts  Russia's 
position  and  policy  among  the  other  Slavic  nations. 

Relations  with  Russia’s  future  allies;  France  and  her  craving  for  a  strong 
alliance  with  Russia  to  counterbalance  Germany;  French  military  missions 
and  visits  to  Russia;  French  loans  and  other  forms  of  assistance. 
England:  attempt  of  King  Edward  VII  to  encircle  Germany;  his  visit  to 
Reval  in  1908;  agreement  with  Russia  after  generations  of  opposition. 

Readings: 

J.  A.  Beveridge,  The  Russian  Advance,  1904. 

E.  G.  Browne,  The  Persian  Revolution,  1905-1909. 

A.  Bullard,  The  Diplomacy  of  the  Great  War. 

Percy  Dearmer,  Russia  and  Britain,  Oxford  Univ.  Press,  1915. 

C.  J.  H.  Hayes,  Modern  Europe,  Vol.  II. 

Y.  N.  Schelking,  Game  of  Diplomacy,  London,  1918. 

W.  M.  Shuster,  The  Strangling  of  Persia. 

M.  S.  Stanoyevich,  Russian  Foreign  Policy  in  the  East,  San  Francisco 
1916. 

E.  The  Great  War. 

Russia  and  Serbia. 

The  Russian  mobilization. 

The  German  declaration  of  war. 

Strategic  position  of  Russia  and  of  her  armies. 

Her  role  towards  France;  the  invasion  of  East  Prussia. 

Russia’s  military  effort. 

Why  she  failed  in  1915. 

Turkey,  the  Straits  and  Bulgaria. 

Allied  help  and  lack  of  understanding. 

War  aims  and  peace  aims. 

Campaign  of  1916;  Sukomlinov’s  trial. 

I  12]  • 


Rumania,  Galicia,  the  Caucasus. 

The  Tsar  and  the  Grand  Duke  Nicholas. 

The  Navy:  in  the  Baltic;  in  the  Black  Sea. 

Readings: 

E.  J.  Dillon,  Eclipse  of  Russia,  1918. 

B.  Gourko,  War  and  Revolution  in  Russia,  Macmillan  Co.,  T919. 

H.  S.  King,  Russia  During  the  War,  1919,  London. 

O.  D.  Lourie,  La  Russie  en  1914-1917,  Paris,  Alcan,  1918. 

St.  Washburn,  Field  Notes  from  the  Russian  Front,  London,  1915. 

St.  Washburn,  The  Russian  Advance,  N.  Y.,  1917. 

F.  The  Revolution. 

Growing  social  unrest  and  increasing  general  discontent. 

Physical  causes;  food  shortage,  etc. 

Psychical  causes;  disillusionment  in  the  war  aims;  war- weariness;  dis¬ 
trust  of  government. 

Government  policy  of  suspicion  and  oppression. 

Personalities  and  characters  surrounding  the  Tsar.  The  Court,  the  Em¬ 
press,  the  Government,  the  ruling  class,  Rasputine. 

The  revolutionary  movement,  at  home  and  abroad. 

The  different  political  parties  and  their  role  during  the  war. 

The  Imperial  Duma  and  the  Council  of  Empire. 

Oppressed  nationalities;  German  propaganda. 

The  outbreak  of  March,  1917;  the  abdication  of  Tsar  Nicholas;  the 
First  Provisional  Government;  its  program;  its  policy;  causes  of  its 
weakness. 

Kerenski  and  the  Allies.  The  abortive  offensive  of  June,  1917.  Kornilov 
and  the  increasing  weakness  of  Kerenski. 

G.  The  rise  of  the  revolutionary  tide. 

The  Bolshevik  uprising  of  November,  1917;  causes  of  its  success. 

The  system  of  government  of  the  Bolsheviki;  their  ideals  and  methods  of 
administration. 

The  Constituent  Assembly;  its  history  and  fate  at  the  hands  of  the 
Bolsheviki. 

The  reign  of  terror  of  the  first  months. 

Peace  of  Brest-Litovsk.  Poland  and  Finland. 

The  Ukraine  and  Hetman  Skoropadski. 

First  year  of  Bolshevik  rule  (1918). 

Similarities  with  the  French  Revolution  and  main  points  of  difference. 
Separation  of  Siberia;  Provisional  Government  of  Omsk;  Admiral  Kol¬ 
chak. 

Allied  policy  in  Siberia  (Japan,  United  States). 

Peace  Conference  at  Paris;  position  of  Russia  and  the  Russians. 

Allied  policy  toward  Russia  at  Paris;  the  Prinkipo  proposal  and  missions 
to  the  Bolsheviki. 

The  Baltic  question;  the  army  of  General  Youdenitch;  causes  of  its  two 
consecutive  breakdowns. 

I  13] 


Rise  of  General  Denikine  in  the  South  of  Russia;  1919;  the  Cossacks. 
The  Caucasus;  the  Southern  Republics;  Armenia;  Persia. 

Failures  of  Kolchak  and  Denikine  in  the  autumn  of  1919. 

Second  year  of  the  Bolshevik  rule  (1919). 

The  blockade  and  trade  with  Russia. 

Changes  in  the  Allied  policies  during  the  spring  of  1920;  causes  and 
consequences. 

Readings: 

Anon.  Bolshevik  Aims  and  Ideals ,  Macmillan  Co.,  1919. 

E.  Antonelli,  Bolshevik  Russia ,  1920. 

E.  Buisson,  Les  Bolsheviki,  Paris,  Fischbacher,  1919. 

M.  W.  Davis,  Open  Gates  to  Russia ,  1920. 

S.  A.  Korff,  Russian  and  French  Revolutions ,  Yale  Review,  April,  1919. 
R.  E.  C.  Long,  Russian  Revolutionary  Aspects ,  1919. 

A.  Masson,  Histoire  Complete  de  la  Revolution  Russe,  Paris,  Boccard,  1918. 
P.  N.  Miliukov,  Bolshevism ,  N.  Y.,  1920. 

C.  K.  Cumming  and  W.  W.  Pettit,  Russian- American  Relations,  1 9 1 7— 
1920. 

E.  A.  Ross,  Russia  in  Upheaval,  1918. 

C.  E.  Russell,  Unchained  Russia,  1918. 

J.  Spargo,  Bolshevism.,  1919. 

J.  Spargo,  The  Greatest  Failure  in  All  History,  N.  Y.,  1920. 

Leon  Trotsky,  History  of  the  Russian  Revolution  to  Brest-Litvosk,  Lon¬ 
don,  1919.  (His  point  of  view  and  theories  are  often  distorted  and  always 
one-sided,  but  his  narrative  is  substantially  correct.) 

E.  Vandervelde,  Three  Aspects  of  the  Russian  Revolution,  London,  1918. 
W.  E.  Walling,  Sovietism,  1920. 

E.  H.  Wilcox,  Russia's  Ruin ,  1919. 

H.  W.  Williams,  The  Spirit  of  the  Russian  Revolution,  1919. 

R.  Wilton,  Russia's  Agony,  London,  1918. 


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